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Geological Formation

Stalactite

Karst Caves and Sinkholes

A stalactite is a mineral formation that hangs from the ceiling of a cave, hot spring or man made structure such as a bridge or mine. It can form from any material that is soluble, that can be deposited as a colloid or suspension, or that is capable of melting, so stalactites may be made of lava, minerals, mud, peat, pitch, sand, sinter or amberat. Most stalactites are speleothems formed in limestone caves, though a stalactite is not necessarily a speleothem.

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Source Stalactite (Wikipedia)
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Stalactite (Wikipedia)
  • In Discipline: Speleology, Lead paragraph
    A stalactite (UK: , US: ; from Ancient Greek σταλακτός (stalaktós) 'dripping', from σταλάσσειν (stalássein) 'to drip') is a mineral formation that hangs from the ceiling of caves, hot springs, or man-made structures such as bridges and mines
  • In Group: Caves and Cave Systems, Lead sentence
    A stalactite (UK: , US: ; from Ancient Greek σταλακτός (stalaktós) 'dripping', from σταλάσσειν (stalássein) 'to drip') is a mineral formation that hangs from the ceiling of caves, hot springs, or man-made structures such as bridges and mines.
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